Punyaslok Rajmata Ahilyadevi Holkar : Queen of the Kingdom of Malwa

PunyashlokRājmataDeviAhilyabaiHolkar (31 May 1725-13 August 1795) also known as the Philosopher Queen was a Holkar dynasty Queen of the Malwa kingdom, India. She is often compared with Catherine II of Russia, Elizabeth I of England, Margaret I of Denmark. Ahilyabai was born in the village of Chaundi in Jamkhed, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. She moved the capital to Maheshwar south of Indore on the Narmada River.

Ahilyabai was born on May 31, 1725 in the village of Chaundi, in the present-day Ahmednagar district in Maharashtra. Her father, MankojiShinde, was the patil of the village, a member of the proud Dhangar community. Ahilyabai's father taught her to read and write.
Her entrance on to the stage of history was something of an accident: MalharRaoHolkar, a commander in the service of the PeshwaBajiraoand lord of the Malwa territory, stopped in Chaundi on his way to Pune and, according to legend, saw the eight-year-old Ahilyabai at the temple service in the village. Recognising her piety and her character, he brought the girl to the Holkar territory as a bride for his son, Khanderao (1723–1754). She was married to Khanderao in 1733. Click here to read more.